Chapter 151: Iona’s Observation Diary (6)
Chapter 151: Iona’s Observation Diary (6)
The sight of those milky-white calves thrust right before my eyes made me realize instinctively that something had gone horribly wrong.
A student who sneaks into a professor's office, peeks at her diary, and then hides under her desk to ogle her legs?
Is this… okay?
I don't think it is….
Drip.
The sensation of a single bead of cold sweat trickling down my spine was eerily chilling.
This is driving me crazy.
I wanted nothing more than to let out a deep, heavy sigh, but…
Iona’s legs were closer than I expected. I forced myself to hold it in, fearing even my breath might brush against her.
I focused on suppressing my presence, being careful even with my breathing. It should be fine as long as I stay like this.
…Right?
Suddenly, a surge of anxiety washed over me as I wondered how much longer I’d have to stay here.
I need to get out fast… but surely I won’t have to hide here all day?
Carla and Elisha worrying about me was one problem, but more importantly, could I even maintain this level of focus for an entire day?
Impossible.
And if I showed even the slightest opening, Iona would surely catch me.
Goosebumps broke out across my skin.
Iona probably wouldn't have me expelled. After all, she knew I was exceptionally good at catching cultists.
But that didn't mean there wouldn't be any disciplinary action.
Seriously, what do I do?
Just as my mana was about to waver from the anxiety.
Flip, flip.
“Haaah.”
Along with the sound of pages turning, a strangely feverish moan struck my ears.
Wait. Could this be…?
A dizzying sensation washed over me, as if someone had struck the back of my head.
Come to think of it, there was an erotic novel spread out on Iona’s desk.
According to what I heard at the library, had her constitution changed because it had been a long time since she directly sucked blood?
Vampires seduce the opposite sex with their beautiful appearance, but they themselves have almost no sexual desire.
This is because the sexual desire they had as humans transforms into bloodlust upon becoming a vampire. It’s also why young vampires, intoxicated by blood, cause accidents.
Since appetite and sexual desire are merged, bloodlust must be difficult to control.
But what if, as Iona said, her sexual desire had returned after rejecting her vampire instincts for a long period?
Does that mean the current Iona is feeling a sexual urge that’s hard to control…?
“Haa….”
For some reason, Iona’s hand began to creep down beneath the desk.
I couldn't take my eyes off the sight.
Not her milky calves, not her rounded knees, not even her slightly visible thighs—not even my own conscience.
At this moment, I saw nothing else.
Only Iona’s fingers sliding into her short, hot-pant-like shorts.
Just as her finger had slipped about an inch inside.
“Oh! Oh! I forgot to hang the sign!”
Iona cried out and bolted upright. I blinked blankly as I heard the sound of her chair sliding back.
“……?”
I hadn't fully grasped the situation yet, but I could clearly hear Iona’s footsteps moving away.
A sign… she must mean that.
Sometimes, professors who are conducting sensitive research or need personal time hang a "Do Not Disturb" sign and lock their doors.
It was likely a system born from the fact that the laboratories were located within the Academy, where other students and professors frequently passed by.
A way of showing mutual consideration, so to speak.
However, what mattered right now wasn't the origin of the sign or what Iona intended to do after hanging it.
The only thing that mattered was that I had to use the moment the door opened to escape.
If the door got locked like this, I’d be stuck hiding here all day without any choice.
This was my final chance, one I absolutely couldn't miss.
…For a split second, the image of Iona’s fingers sliding into her shorts flickered before my eyes, and a sense of regret welled up.
Regardless, I had to get out of here somehow while the door was briefly open.
Steeling my resolve, I moved cautiously.
As I crawled out from under the desk.
“Wha!”
Upside-down features. Dark red hair flowing in reverse. A voice full of mischief.
Iona’s head suddenly popped down from above.
“GYAAAAAAAH!!!”
Thud!
Startled, I slammed the crown of my head against the desk… but despite the stinging pain that brought tears to my eyes, I managed to scramble out.
The problem was that this wasn't the end.
The unnecessarily large portrait. The eyes of the Iona in the frame rolled around and locked onto mine.
“……!”
It even pulled the corners of its mouth up into a grotesque, grinning smile.
At this point, I had no choice but to scream again.
“KYAAAAAAAH!!”
The portrait! It smiled!
And since I’d screamed twice, it was only natural that Iona caught me.
“Caught you! Caught you! You stalker!”
Iona swung the thick erotic novel.
Clonk!
The world went dark.
*
When I opened my eyes, Iona was right in front of me.
“Hello! Hello! You’re finally awake!”
“???”
A strange sense of déjà vu.
I felt like this had happened before… right. It was definitely when I was recovering in the intensive care unit after defeating Edmerec.
Then is this a dream…?
“To think my student is a perverted stalker criminal! This Professor Iona is so sad….”
My head, which had been foggy from sleep, suddenly cleared.
Now that I was conscious, there was only one thing to do.
With a movement as fluid as water, I dropped to my knees before Iona.
Then, to prove my harmlessness, I threw both hands high into the air.
…If it looked like I was kneeling and being punished, it absolutely wasn't that.
Anyway, I looked up at Iona with a serious face and said,
“It’s a misunderstanding.”
“Hmm? Hmm? Student Yandel followed me secretly, and when I stepped out for a moment just in case, he went into my office, peeked at my diary, and was even caught ogling my legs from under the desk… was there any part of that that could be a misunderstanding?”
“…Regardless, it’s a misunderstanding.”
“A misunderstanding, you say?”
Iona tilted her head and asked.
“Then, then. That means you have some kind of excuse?”
“Of course.”
I took a deep breath to calm myself before speaking.
“Actually, from the moment I saw you in the library, my heart started pounding….”
“Liar! Liar! I just confirmed that you didn't fall for my Charm!”
“Ah.”
Come to think of it, Iona had spoken as if she knew I was there from the beginning.
Could it be….
While I gulped, Iona gestured toward the portrait behind her with a tilt of her head.
“Student Yandel. Do you recognize what this is?”
“Um… a portrait that beautifully captures Professor Iona’s beauty and magnanimous nature…?”
“No, no! This is a security magical tool disguised as a portrait! And flattery won't get you anywhere!”
According to Iona’s following explanation, that portrait had a function to immediately detect any suspicious movement.
In some cases, she could even share its vision to monitor the inside of the lab in real-time.
So, the fact that I’d made eye contact with the portrait or saw it grinning right before I fainted wasn't an illusion.
“I couldn't see Student Yandel’s form, but I saw everything when you were peeking at my diary!”
“Ah….”
“Now you see? Did this Professor Iona look like someone open enough to… ahem, comfort herself while knowing someone was there? It was a test!”
If I had been under the influence of her Charm, I would have done something strange the moment Iona put her hand into her shorts.
Like trying to jump her despite the power difference, attempting to bury my face in her lap, or fairly lowering my own pants to engage in mutual… well, you know.
But although I had watched with bated breath, I hadn't shown any reaction that could be considered abnormal.
If it had seemed like I was affected by the Charm, she probably would have caught me immediately and tried to dispel it through some method.
Because Iona was wary of her own Charm.
Well, looking at her diary, I could roughly understand why.
“Understand? Understand? So now, tell the truth!”
“…….”
Is there no other way? Just as Iona said, I should confess honestly and seek forgiveness….
“Wait?”
If Iona had known from the beginning.
Why did she leave the erotic novel and the notebook right there on the desk?
“Professor. Did you perhaps show me the diary on purpose…?”
“Ahem. I don't know what you're talking about?”
This time, it was Iona who averted her gaze.
What. Is it for real?
I subtly straightened my kneeling legs and shouted.
“Could it be… was this all your plan?!”
“Wha-What?!”
“You lured me in! You made me naturally peek at your diary! You made me hide under the desk! Weren't you trying to get leverage over me like that?!”
“Why! Why! What would I even do with leverage over Student Yandel!”
“You would know that best! What were you planning to do by getting leverage over a student 350 years younger than you?!”
I directed a look of profound betrayal and grief toward the flustered Iona.
For the record, the motif was Elisha right after I’d bought her at the auction.
“I-In the first place, nothing would have happened if Student Yandel hadn't followed me or snuck in!”
She was right. Fundamentally, this happened because I stalked Iona.
But if I admitted that, it would truly become my fault.
A sense of self-loathing welled up, making me wonder if this was really the right thing to do….
I forced myself to swallow it and threw Iona’s own words back at her.
“Pervert! Stalker! Criminal! You were planning to do something violent after getting leverage over me, weren't you?! Just like in an erotic novel! …Just like in an erotic novel!”